Tag: TODAY Show

Dear Facebook: These notes are officially becoming a source of torture.

Wouldn’t it be great if someone wrote a handbook of social media rules and etiquette to guide parents and kids in today’s digital age? By the way, please refrain from using kids in these photos. It only makes them more attractive to internet trolls.

I’ve noticed, ironically, that in teaching this lesson in “online privacy”, many people like, share and comment with their state and sometimes city of residence.

Congratulations Michelle! Your picture is making the rounds and pushed me over the edge today!

At this point you might be thinking Geez Louise, J. J.’s a little touchy today. In the words of ‘friend in my head’ Andy Cohen, “Here’s what.”

The one year anniversary of the publication of “Sophie” is literally right around the corner, February 18th. Less than two months after publishing I was contacted by an editor at the Saudi Gazette (the most widely read newspaper in Saudi Arabia), Molouk Y. Ba-Isa, one of the first female journalists to ever work in the Kingdom over twenty years ago… and she wanted to interview me(?) and feature the book. She ended up writing a full page, 1500 word article.

Every time I see another one of these handwritten notes show up in my timeline, I can’t help but wonder what it will take for just one influential journalist here in the US to take notice.

When I saw the Today Show Weekend article and segment on Miss Bour’s note above, I was practically yelling into the television at Sheinelle Jones, “Don’t you remember “Sophie”, that book you loved when you interviewed me at Good Day Philadelphia about this very topic?”

No need to call the whaaambulance.

It’s just that I believe so passionately in this book as a tool for educators and parents to start thoughtful conversations with kids about what constitutes appropriate online behavior, along with the complications and potential pitfalls that can be avoided through prevention.

Throwing it all the way back to March when I was fortunate enough to meet the kind and talented Sheinelle Jones just three days before she said her goodbyes after nine years as co-host of Emmy award winning Good Day Philadelphia. She’s since made a new home at NBC as Weekend TODAY’s newest anchor.

Philadelphia misses you Sheinelle!

This was my first ever television appearance and both Sheinelle and Mike could not have been more kind.

“This is awesome, I think this is a go-to book for everybody. It’s new… One South Jersey Mom wants to help. Her name is Jennifer Cannon, she wrote this book, it’s called “Sophie Takes a Selfie”, isn’t that a good idea? She hopes this will inspire more thoughtfulness in the way our kids communicate on social media.”